prosecutors finished outlining their evidence against james holmes, and the defense opted not to make a presentation. holmes allegedly shot and killed 12 people and wounded 58 others at a late-night movie showing in the town of aurora, last july. the judge says he will rule by friday on whether holmes should go to trial. a large scale prisoner exchange has begun in syria. the government said today it will swap more than 2100 civilian prisoners for 48 iranians that rebel forces captured in august. the iranians were greeted in damascus by their ambassador, who called them visitors. the rebels insisted they were fighters, supplied by iran to support president bashar al- assad. it was unclear how many of the syrian political prisoners were freed today. opposition groups said there are tens of thousands being held. the middle east struggled today with its worst january storm in 30 years. at least a foot of snow fell in jordan, blocking roads in amman and cutting off remote villages. that followed days of heavy rain in lebanon that touched off severe flooding. the rain, wind and nighttime d